Encounter

JM Ibanez

It was a small bookstore, the kind that only a few people knew about. They catered to the interests of college students and people like me, selling second-hand books on various academic subjects. The store was small, and the shelves were stacked thick with books. It was a Friday afternoon when I went browsing for a book. I wasn't sure if I had enough cash on me to buy a book, but at least I could browse the shelves for one.

I entered the store, and the guy behind the counter greeted me. I was a regular, and he knew me by sight. He was a wearing a light blue polo shirt, its sleeves rolled up. He leaned back in the chair, reading a worn copy of Alice in Wonderland.

"Hey Jay!"

"Uh, do you have anything interesting, and cheap?"

He laughed. "Jay, you always ask that. Look at the back shelves, the philosophy section. There's a copy of Being and Nothingness there. Heavy reading. It isn't cheap, but it is interesting."

"Thanks."

I proceeded to park myself in front of one of the shelves. I was busy scanning for the book, when I heard a familiar voice behind me. I turned around to look.

I hadn't seen her for a while. Has it been four years since she left for California? I stared at her chinky eyes and realized that I wasn't seeing a ghost. It was her, and she was standing right in front of me. She wore a dark purple skirt with some sort of pattern, a skirt I remember her wearing before the prom. Her hair was shorter, and her shirt bared her midriff—her belly was pierced. I was surprised, to say the least of it. Here she was... has it been four years?

"Hey, 'Chelle! It's been a while."

"I know Jay." She smiled. I still remember that smile. "How are you?"

"Good," I answered. "I'm doing good. I found a job in Makati. Doesn't pay much, but it's a start. So when did you arrive in Manila?"

"Yesterday afternoon. Ugh, I'm still suffering from jet lag." She smiled once more. "So, browsing books again?"

I shrugged. "Yeah. You know me."

"Hey, we're going out tonight. Dee's showing me around Malate. Are you free? We're in need of a bodyguard for the night."

"Very funny." I smiled back. "No, sorry. I have paperwork to do," I lied.

She raised her eyebrows. Jay, you fool. Why did you turn down that invitation?, her eyes questioned me.

I hadn't the heart to tell her that I broke up with Dee a long time ago, and that I was still hurting. I didn't want to tell her that Dee hated my guts. I couldn't tell her, even though she was my best friend.

"Aww, c'mon. It'll be fun."

"Really, Chelle... I can't."

"You sure? This isn't like you Jay."

"I'm positive. I really can't."

"Okay..."

"So, will you be going to California?" I ventured to ask.

"Yeah, next month. I thought you were going to study in the States? What happened?"

"Change of plans."

"No really, what happened?"

"I told you, it was a change of plans." It was partly true. I had intended to transfer to a college in New York. Everything was set: my application was accepted, my transfer credentials were ready, my visa was already processed, and I was raring to go.

She sensed something wrong. "So how are you and Dee?"

"Okay."

She looked at me funny.

"Uh, look, I gotta go," I told her. "My lunch break ends at one, and..."

She looked at her wristwatch. "Oh. Okay, then. I'll be seeing you." She smiled again.

"I'll call you," I called out to her while I beat my retreat. "I'll call you."

"Yeah, and you can tell me about you and Dee."

Sure, I muttered to myself. I looked into the store, and saw her standing there. I wanted to tell Chelle. I wanted to burst into the room and explain everything, to confess it all. I knew I hadn't the guts. It was in my mouth— it tasted like bitter almonds, like I had eaten a burnt piece of paper. I can't face her. I just... can't. She stood there, reading a book, her back towards the window. I walked away from the store.